My Story

Pasojoc III, where your child lives, is located in an extremely remote area of the mountains in Quiche, Guatemala.  Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is a 3-hour walk to the nearest market town.  The people who inhabit the area are Quiche Mayans who can trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche; however, Spanish is becoming more common.  The climate is basically warm, but it can get very cold at night.  Houses in this area are typically constructed of adobe with tin sheet or tile roofs and dirt floors.  Pasojoc III is an area rich with natural resources.  It is a farming area where the inhabitants grow staples such as corn, beans and other types of vegetables. Many families also raise domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cows and chickens.

Hello, my name is Marta Vidalia Grave de la Cruz. I was born on June 2, 2020, in Zacualpa, Quiche, and I am 4 years old. I am a healthy girl, and I am not yet enrolled at school due to my young age. I stay at home, and I like to play dolls with my sister. I love pink, and my favorite animal is the cat. I like to eat fried chicken. I have one brother and one sister, and they are part of the Feeding Program. I want to tell you that I walk only five minutes to come. As a family we are not attending any church. I live only under the care of my mother because my father abandoned the family two years ago. My mother`s name is Andrea Grave de la Cruz. She is a healthy woman. She earns a living by working for our neighbors. Moreover, she raises hens to sell and get some income. In addition, she and my whole family travel to the coast in October to pick coffee beans in order to earn some money to cover our family expenses.

We live in my uncle`s house. Thankfully, we do not pay a rent.  My uncle`s name is Agustin Grave.  It has two rooms and one separated kitchen. The house is made of adobe, tin sheet roof, and dirt floors. We do not have running water. We get it from a nearby river by connecting a hose, and we do not have electricity. We use candles at night. As a humble family, our needs are groceries and corn. We would like to have some chicks at home because we have enough space in the house. This is my personal information, and I hope you enjoy reading it. My mother gave this information to the LW evangelism team.  I send you many blessings!

Kisses and strong hugs,

Marta Vidalia Grave de la Cruz

Translated by:  Gladys Chavez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua